Curriculum Vitae

João Manuel Nogueira Malça de Matos Ferreira

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05/01/2018

João Malça holds a PhD (Mechanical Engineering), MSc (Heat Transfer) and Mechanical Engineering Degree (5-year course, Thermodynamics
and Fluids) from the University of Coimbra. Malça has over fifteen years of teaching experience in the College of Engineering
of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, covering a wide variety of subjects: Renewable Energy Systems; Energy and Environment;
Heat Transfer Fundamentals and Applications; Industrial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning; Thermodynamics; Thermal Machines;
Mechanics; Computer Aided Design; and Introduction to Programming. His research interests include Life Cycle Assessment and
Industrial Ecology, with several published energy, environmental and technical assessments on renewable energy systems, in
particular bioenergy systems. He finished is PhD in 2011 at the Univ of Coimbra with a thesis entitled "Incorporating uncertainty
in the life-cycle modeling of biofuels: energy renewability and GHG intensity of biodiesel and bioethanol in Europe". He is
currently Director of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Program at the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering (DEM) of the Polytechnic
Institute of Coimbra (PIC). He is also a senior member of the Portuguese Association of Industrial Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
Engineers. In the past, Malça has been Head of the HVAC group at DEM, PIC (2004-2005), visiting researcher at the Institut
National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Paris (2002); and member of the Executive Board of DEM, PIC (1999-2002).

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2011. "Life-cycle studies of biodiesel in Europe: A review addressing the variability of results and modeling issues", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 15, 1: 338 - 351.Abstract Renewable energy sources, and particularly biofuels, are being promoted as possible solutions to address global
warming and the depletion of petroleum resources. Nevertheless, significant disagreement and controversies exist regarding
the actual benefits of biofuels displacing fossil fuels, as shown by a large number of life-cycle studies that have varying
and sometimes contradictory conclusions. This article presents a comprehensive review of life-cycle studies of biodiesel in
Europe. Studies have been compared in terms of non renewable primary energy requirement and GHG intensity of biodiesel. Recently
published studies negate the definite and deterministic advantages for biodiesel presented in former studies. A high variability
of results, particularly for biodiesel GHG intensity, with emissions ranging from 15 to 170 gCO2eq MJf -1 has been observed.
A detailed assessment of relevant aspects, including major assumptions, modeling choices and results, has been performed.
The main causes for this high variability have been investigated, with emphasis on modeling choices. Key issues found are
treatment of co-products and land use modeling, including high uncertainty associated with N2O and carbon emissions from cultivated
soil. Furthermore, a direct correlation between how soil emissions were modeled and increasing values for calculated GHG emissions
has been found. A robust biodiesel life-cycle modeling has been implemented and the main sources of uncertainty have been
investigated to show how uncertainty can be addressed to improve transparency of LC models and reliability of results. Recommendations
for further research work concerning the improvement of biofuel life cycle modeling are also presented.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2009. "Energy and Environmental Benefits of Rapeseed Oil Replacing Diesel", International Journal of Green Energy 6, 3: 287 - 301.Abstract In this paper the benefits of rapeseed oil (RO) replacing petroleum diesel in transportation are evaluated, demonstrating
that RO use displaces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and saves fossil energy. A systemic description of the RO chain in France
has been implemented and GHG emissions and energy used throughout the life cycle have been calculated using alternative co-product
credit procedures, namely a replacement method, three allocation approaches (mass, energy, economic) and ignoring co-product
credits. The results show that the cultivation stage is particularly important, being responsible for 68% of the primary energy
requirements and 87% of the GHG emissions of the RO “well-to-tank” system, mainly due to the use of fertilizers and related
N2O emissions. Considerable reductions in fossil fuel depletion and GHG emissions can be achieved by replacing petroleum diesel
with rapeseed oil (0.9 MJ and 62 gCO2eq per MJ of fossil diesel replaced), but optimum use of co-products is needed. .

Malça, J; Freire, F.. 2013. "Capturing Land Use Change and Uncertainty in the Life-Cycle Modeling of Sugar-Beet based Bioethanol", Trabalho apresentado em Energy for Sustainability 2013, Sustainable Cities: Designing for People and the Planet, In Energy for Sustainability 2013, Sustainable Cities: Designing for People and the Planet - Proceedings, Coimbra.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2010. "A comprehensive framework for incorporating uncertainty in the Life Cycle Assessment of biofuels for transportation ", Trabalho apresentado em Mini-EURO Conference. Uncertainty and Robustness in Planning and Decision Making (URPDM 2010), In Book of Abstracts 25th Mini-EURO Conference Uncertainty and Robustness in Planning and Decision Making - URPDM 2010, Coimbra.Abstract The Life Cycle Assessment methodology is being increasingly used to assess the environmental benefits and drawbacks
of biofuel systems. Uncertainty issues, however, can compromise the confidence of LCA results and bias the subsequent decision-making
process. This article shows how a framework for incorporating uncertainty in the life cycle GHG emissions of biofuels can
be developed and implemented. The relevance of incorporating uncertainty associated with key modeling choices (e.g. definition
of system boundaries and functional unit, reference system used, parameter uncertainty and treatment of co-products…) is reviewed
and discussed. An application brought from the European biodiesel market is used to illustrate the extent to which modeling
choices influence life cycle outcomes. Selected results are shown in terms of GHG intensity for biodiesel used in transportation
(gCO2eq per km travelled). An uncertainty contribution analysis indicates the most significant factors affecting the GHG balance
of biodiesel. It is concluded that a comprehensive assessment of uncertainty issues is essential for a full understanding
of the environmental performance of biofuels. This article also shows how a detailed and transparent report addressing uncertainty
can be implemented to develop more sustainable biofuel chains and to support a comprehensive assessment of biofuels.

9.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2009. "Assessing direct land use change in biodiesel GHG emissions: A life cycle model accounting for uncertainty ", Trabalho apresentado em 5th Dubrovnik Conference on Sustainable Development Energy, Water and Environment Systems, In Book Of Abstracts - 5th Dubrovnik conference on sustainable development of energy, water and environmental systems, Dubrovnik.Abstract This article addresses different land use change scenarios, as well as uncertainty issues related to parameters and
concerning how co-product credits are accounted for, in the life cycle modeling of rapeseed oil (RO). In particular, a comprehensive
assessment of different land use change scenarios – rapeseed cultivation in former agricultural land, set-aside land and grassland
– has been conducted, which results in different carbon stock change values. GHG emissions of RO and GHG savings relative
to fossil diesel have been calculated in terms of probability distributions using a substitution method, three allocation
approaches and ignoring co-product credits. The net GHG balance of rapeseed oil is strongly influenced by soil carbon stock
variations due to land use change and by the magnitude of nitrous oxide emissions from cultivated soil. Depending on prior
land use, GHG emissions may comply with the European directive’s target of 35% GHG emission savings (arable land and set-aside
land converted to rapeseed cultivation) or, conversely, may completely offset carbon gains attributed to rapeseed oil production
for several decades (conversion of grassland; substitution method). .

10.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2009. "How Uncertainty Issues Affect Life cycle Assessment, and Energy Efficiency of Biodiesel ", Trabalho apresentado em 1st international Exergy, Life Cycle Assessment, and Sustainability Workshop & Symposium (ELCAS), In Proceedings of ELCAS 2009 - 4, 6 de June 2009 Nisyros Island, Greece, Nisyros .Abstract Many studies have been addressing the environmental life cycle (LC) impacts of biodiesel. However, data uncertainty
assessment and the implications of modeling assumptions are in general neglected which compromises the reliability of the
studies’ outcomes. This paper addresses uncertainty issues (parameter uncertainty and modeling choices) in the LC modeling
of RME (rapeseed methyl ester, biodiesel). Energy requirements and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with
the transesterification production step of RME from rapeseed oil have been calculated in terms of probability
distributions using system expansion, three allocation approaches and ignoring co-product credits. It is shown
that results strongly depend on the substitution scheme considered for the by-product glycerin. Moreover, the overall
energy renewability efficiency and avoided GHG emissions of RME as an energy carrier displacing fossil diesel (FD) have been
also quantified; a large parameter uncertainty in RME GHG emissions is observed, contrasting with results for the
transesterification stage only. The large degree of uncertainty in GHG emissions is mainly associated with the rapeseed cultivation
stage. This research emphasizes the importance of identifying and quantifying the uncertainty sources in the LC modeling
of biofuels, so that sound recommendations can be made. .

Oliveira, N. S; Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2008. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Biodiesel From Rapeseed for Portugal - Comparison With Fossil Diesel", Trabalho apresentado em International Conference and Exihibition on Bioenergy - Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities , In Proceedings of the Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities - International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy, Guimarães.Abstract This paper presents an environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study performed for Rapeseed methyl ester (RME,
biodiesel) produced in Portugal. An important goal of the study is to compare and assess the environmental impacts associated
with alternative life cycle systems (different raw material sources and logistic schemes). Thus, 5 scenarios have been developed
and a detailed LCI has been built for each scenario, describing the alternative biodiesel Life Cycle systems. Another goal
of this paper is to present the comparison with fossil diesel to investigate the actual benefits and environmental impacts
of RME displacing fossil diesel. Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) results obtained with a “mid-point approach” are
presented and discussed with the goal of identifying the most environmental options for biodiesel from rapeseed oil in Portugal.
.

14.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2008. "Uncertainty analysis applied to the life cycle of biodiesel", Trabalho apresentado em International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy - Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities, In Proceedings of the BIOENERGY: Challenges and opportunities - International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy, Guimarães.Abstract Many studies have addressed the life cycle of biodiesel and most mention limitations due to data uncertainty/variability
and modeling assumptions, acknowledging that the reliability of studies depends on the uncertainty degree of the results.
However; uncertainty has not been assessed in a comprehensive structured way for RME (Rapeseed Methyl Ester, biodiesel). This
paper has two main goals: to address variability and uncertainty in the life cycle modeling of RME and to evaluate the implications
of displacing fossil diesel (FD) in terms of energy savings and avoided GHG emissions. For this purpose, a systemic description
of the RME life cycle has been implemented, including uncertainty data. The methodology developed permitted the calculation
of biodiesel energy renewability efficiency and GHG emissions in terms of probability distributions, expressed using the 95th,
75th, 25th and 5th percentiles and the coefficient of variation. Results show that GHG emissions have considerably highe uncertainty
than energy efficiency, which is mainly due to nitrous oxide emissions from cultivated soil. Another important source of
uncertainty arises from glycerine’s various potential uses - e.g. displacing synthetic glycerine or other chemicals, used
as animal feed or just burned as a source of energy -, which generate very different credits and depend on market conditions.
Life cycle energy savings and avoided GHG emissions when FD is replaced by RME have also been calculated, demonstrating
that RME has benefits. .

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2007. "Energy and environmental benefits of rapeseed oil replacing diesel", Trabalho apresentado em 3rd International Energy and Environment Symposium (IEEES-3), In Proceedings of IEEES-3, Évora.Abstract This paper evaluates the benefits of Rapeseed Oil (RO) replacing petroleum diesel, demonstrating that RO use displaces
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and saves fossil energy. A systemic description of the RO chain in France has been implemented
and GHG emissions and energy used throughout the life cycle have been calculated, using three allocation approaches
(mass, energy, economic), system expansion and ignoring co-product credits. The cultivation stage is particularly important,
being responsible for 68% of the primary energy requirements and 87% of the global warming potential of the RO
“well-to-tank” system, mainly due to the use of fertilizers and related N 2 O emissions. Considerable reductions
in fossil fuel depletion and GHG emissions can be achieved by replacing petroleum diesel with rapeseed oil (0,9 MJ and 62
g CO 2 eq per MJ of fossil diesel replaced), but optimum use of by-products is needed. .

Malça, João; Gaspar, Marcelo; Pereira, Cândida; Antunes, Fernando. 2005. "Low Cost Water Pumping Systems for Developing Countries", Trabalho apresentado em International Conference on Water, Land and Food Security in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, In Proceedings of the International Conference on Water, Land and Food Security in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, Bari.

23.

Malça, J.; Rozakis, S.; Freire, F.. 2005. "Bioethanol Replacing Gasoline: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction, Life-Cycle Energy Savings and Economic Aspects", Trabalho apresentado em Proceedings of the Life Cycle Management Conference, In LCM2005 - Innovation by Life Cycle Management - International Conference, Barcelona.Abstract Biofuels have been emerging as the main alternative to fossil fuels in the transportations market. However, because
their production requires fossil inputs and may have significant environmental impacts, the actual benefits to which biofuels
can displace fossil fuels and GHG emissions depend, crucially, on the efficiency with which biofuels are produced. In this
paper the life cycle of alternative bioethanol chain is investigated to assess energy renewability, environmental performance
and cost-effectiveness. GHG emissions and energy used throughout the life cycle have been calculated, using different allocation
approaches, together with bioethanol production costs. The implications of bioethanol replacing gasoline are discussed based
on our results, namely avoided GHG emissions, life-cycle energy savings and CO2 abatement costs. .

24.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2004. "Carbon and energy balances for biodiesel: Life-cycle emissions and energy savings", Trabalho apresentado em 2nd International Ukrainian Conference on Biomass for Energy, In Conference proceedings Sections "Biomass resources", "Economic and environmental issues", Kyiv.Abstract Biodiesel can offer significant benefits in fossil resource depletion and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). However,
fossil fuels are used in the production of biodiesel; hence, the actual benefits to which biodiesel can displace fossil fuels
and GHG emissions depend, crucially, on the efficiency with which it can be produced. The life cycle of Rapeseed Methyl Ester
(RME) in France has been investigated. A systemic description of the RME chain has been implemented and GHG emissions and
energy used throughout the life cycle have been calculated, using four different allocation approaches and ignoring co-product
credits. Energy savings and avoided greenhouse gas emissions are calculated for RME displacing fossil diesel: 0.73 MJ and
0.074 kg CO2eq per MJ of biodiesel; 26.44 MJ and 2.66 kg CO2eq per liter of diesel displaced. In addition, 35 GJ and 3.51
tonnes of CO2eq are saved per cultivated hectare. .

25.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. 2004. "Life cycle energy analysis for bioethanol: allocation methods and implications for energy efficiency and renewability", Trabalho apresentado em Energy-Efficient, Cost-effective, and Environmentally-Sustainable Systems and Processes, In Proceedings of Energy-Efficient, Cost-effective, and Environmentally-Sustainable Systems and Processes, Guanajuato, Mexico.Abstract Increased use of biofuels for transport is emerging as an important policy strategy to substitute
petroleum-based fuels. However, the extent to which biofuel can displace fossil fuels and net emissions of CO2 depends on
the efficiency with which it can be produced. To demonstrate that biofuel has a positive energy balance – i.e. more energy
is contained in than is used in the production – a life cycle approach must be employed, allowing quantification of the renewability
of biofuel delivered to consumers. A novel indicator is proposed – the energy renewability efficiency – aiming at characterizing
the renewability of (bio)energy sources. ERE measures the fraction of final fuel energy obtained from renewable sources. The
LCEA for bioethanol in France has been investigated. Assessing the (fossil and non-fossil) energy used throughout the life
cycle and calculating the renewability of two alternative bioethanol product systems are important goals. Physical and
economic data was collected and a systemic description of the bioethanol chains has been implemented. Inventory
results – calculated using four different allocation approaches and ignoring co-product credits – are analyzed in order
to understand the effect of allocation in the overall energy efficiency and renewability of bioethanol. Sensitivity analysis
shows that the choice of the allocation procedure has a major influence on the results. In fact, ERE values
for ethanol can vary more than 50%, depending on the allocation used. Finally, we conclude that, in general, ethanol produced
from sugar beet or wheat in France is clearly favorable in primary energy terms. In particular, a maximum ERE value of
55% was obtained for wheat based ethanol (mass allocation), meaning that 55% of the biofuel energy content is
indeed renewable energy. .

26.

Freire, F.; Malça, J.; Rozakis, S.. 2004. "Integrated Economic and Environmental Life Cycle Optimization: an Application to Biofuel Prodution in France", Trabalho apresentado em 56th Meeting of European Working Group Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding, In 56th Meeting of European Working Group Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding, Coimbra.Abstract In order to attenuate natural resource depletion and reuse emissions related to the supply of products and services
required by human societies it is necessary to implement more sustainable energy systems moving towards a closed resource
cycle economy. for this purpose, the entire life-cycle of products has to be considered and different criteria concerning
economic, environmental and energy aspects, need to be assessed simultaneously. This paper presents an integrated economy-environment
model of biofuel chains. The model combines mathematical programming formats of a partial equilibrium microeconomic model
with the environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework. The application of this approach to the French biofuel system
is presented and a systemic description of alternative biofuel production schemes has been implemented where all these chains
compete for the agricultural land available. The biofuel production includes: i) the arable farm sector - which cultivates
dedicated energy crops (namely sugar beet, wheat and rapeseed), represented in the model by a large number farms - , ii)
the biofuel industry - which is divided into two chains: ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) and biodiesel, each of which has
an intermediate stage (ethanol and seed-oil production, respectively) - iii) a final transformation stage integrated into
the petroleum refinery system. The policy options (according to different scenarios). A multicriteria interactive methodology,
based on the reference point method, supports decision making to find compromise solutions in the presence of conflicting
objectives. Conclusions regarding potential applications to environmental policy and management are discussed.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.; Rozakis, S.. 2002. "Biofuel production systems in France: integrated economic and environmental life cycle optimization", Trabalho apresentado em II Int. Conf. on Mechanical Engineering, VI Conf. on Industrial Thermal Energy, Renewable Energy and the Environment Universidad
Central de Las Villas, In ..., las Villas.Abstract In order to attenuate natural resource depletion and to reduce polluting emissions related to the supply of products
and services required by human society it is necessary to implement more sustainable energy systems moving towards a more
closed material economy. Biofuel production systems may contribute to this goal. For this purpose, the entire
life-cycle has to be considered (as well as its interactions with the rest of the economical/ecological system)
and different criteria, concerning economic, environmental and energy aspects, need to be assessed simultaneously. This paper
presents an integrated decision-support model used for the optimization of the life cycle of products. The
model combines mathematical programming formats of partial economic analysis with the environmental Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) framework. The application of this approach to French biofuel systems is presented and a systemic description
of alternative biofuel production schemes has been implemented where all these chains compete for the agricultural land available.
The biofuel production includes: i) the arable farm sector –which cultivates dedicated energy crops (namely sugar beet, wheat
and rapeseed), represented in the model by a large number of farms– and ii) the biofuel industry –which is divided into two
main chains: ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) and biodiesel, each of which has an intermediate stage (ethanol and seed-oil
production, respectively)– and iii) a final transformation stage integrated into the petroleum refinery system. A life cycle
inventory is in progress and the optimizing model is designed to determine the biofuel activity levels, including energy crop
surfaces to be cultivated. Conclusions regarding potential applications to environmental policy and management
are discussed. .

Malça, J; Freire, F.. Capturing land use change and uncertainty in the life-cycle modeling of sugar-beet based bioethanol,International Conference Energy for Sustainability 2013, Sustainable Cities: Designing for People and the Planet,Coimbra,2013 (Congresso).

3.

Malça, J. Comparative GHG assessment of biodiesel produced from rapeseed, soybean and sunflower,International Conference Energy for Sustainability 2013, Sustainable Cities: Designing for People and the Planet,Coimbra,2013 (Congresso).

Malça, J. A comprehensive framework for incorporating uncertainty in the Life Cycle Assessment of biofuels for transportation,25th Mini-EURO Conference Uncertainty and Robustness in Planning and Decision Making (URPDM 2010),Coimbra,2010 (Congresso).

Malça, J. Assessing direct land use change in biodiesel GHG emissions: A life cycle model accounting for uncertainty,5th Dubrovnik Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES),Dubrovnik, Croatia,2009 (Congresso).

28.

Malça, J. How uncertainty issues affect life cycle GHG emissions and energy efficiency of biodiesel,5th International Conference of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, (ISIE 2009),Lisboa,2009 (Congresso).

29.

Malça, J. Uncertainty analysis applied to the life cycle of biodiesel,Bioenergy: Challenges and Opportunities. International Conference and Exhibition on Bioenergy,Guimarães,2008 (Congresso).

30.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. Uncertainty Analysis in Biofuel Systems: An Application to the Life Cycle of Biodiesel from Rapeseed Oil,Gordon Research Conference on Industrial Ecology,New London,2008 (Poster).

31.

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. Uncertainty Analysis applied to the Life Cycle of Biodiesel (RME),29th Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in North America,Tampa, FL,2008 (Comunicação).

Malça, J.; Freire, F.. Life Cycle Assessment and Management of biofuels: improving the environmental sustainability of transportation energy
systems,The quest for sustainability: the role of environmental Management Systems and Tools,Coimbra,2006 (Comunicação).

Malça, J. Participação no júri de Neus Escobar Lanzuela. Contribution to the Evaluation of the Environmental Impacts of Biodiesel. Application to the Spanish Context, 2015. Tese (Engenharia do Ambiente) - Universitat de Valencia.